Optimal Scheduling of Electric Vehicles in the Presence of Mobile Charging Stations

Abstract

The quality and quantity of electric vehicles' fixed charging stations (FCS) have improved rapidly in the last decade. However, challenges such as low charger availability, high charging process time, and range anxiety still deter potential customers from buying electric vehicles (EV). Furthermore, the network peak period conflicts with the EV charging demand pattern causing several technical challenges for the power grid. As a remedy, various charging technologies should be utilized together to overcome these shortcomings. This paper proposes an optimization framework for scheduling EV charging management considering mobile charging stations (MCS) along with FCSs. Considering the EV user's travel trajectory, the proposed frame-work selects the best charging station type and location, which minimizes the user's overall charging time and cost. Moreover, it illustrates the MCS benefits to mitigate the stress on the electricity network caused by EVs charging, especially during peak hours. The model is implemented in Chattanooga, USA, where the evaluation results demonstrate the proposed model's effectiveness in reaching the objectives mentioned above.